I have a chronic pain in my lower back so was referred to pain management for the second time. I told them about my experience first time round when he told me to lose weight. But was told things had moved on now. But after a long question and answer session I was basically told the same it was my weight. I know a lot of my problems are my weight but surly not everything. I told them
I struggle with dieting but wasn't offered any help. I'm still in agony the painkillers don't work and I'm just really fed up with it all. Sorry to sound miserable but I've had enough of pain
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Wildething
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Pre RD I was previously slim and healthy. I piled on weight as I became unwell, steroids and MTX didn't help. Over the past 14th months I have managed to lose 50 lbs, but my joints and lower back pain are no better, not one bit better.
I'm not advocating being overweight, being a healthy weight is better for us in many ways....cardiovascular in particular.
It might be worthwhile asking your GP for referral to a weight management class.
I haven't dieted as such, rather I've eaten very healthy, prepared everything fresh, no convenience and no processed food at all. I always eat when I'm hungry. It has been a very long slow process, but I'm getting there.
You have my sympathy. You aren’t alone getting this sort of attitude. Weight is not always the base issue. Yes it might not help but it is not usually the cause. Gosh I hate those sort of docs and medical people!
The first ortho surgeon I saw ... after they MRI’ed and found out I had partially torn the PCL in a fall ... said it was all because of my weight that I’d fallen and it hadn’t healed. No I said... I fell because I was put on diazepam and I tripped while groggy. Then he said only solution was to lose weight.. i said ... would love to and part of trying to was the need for me to be able to exercise and whilst my knee was an issue this was pretty difficult to do. he was so awful I left his consult in tears (this was last sept) ... and guess what ... actually the problem was I had RA. Thankfully my doc was very supportive and even more so when I pointed out my calorie counting app showed I was averaging 700 calories a day but typically only eating around 300/400. I had no appetite and was exhausted.
Anyway ... my point is don’t accept what they are saying. Have they done an X-ray and MRI to rule things out? Talk to your doc and ask for things to be eliminated before a blanket assumption is made. Ask them for help. There is a lot of help available for those who want it. Go to your doc and say I NEED HELP 😁 don’t take no for an answer ... say you know help is available and you want it all. If that doesn’t work ... talk to a different doc. Big hugs 🤗 Shout loud! ❤️
This old chestnut. Ok the best thing you can do is to exercise. I do not mean gym sessions!. So walk. Start with three lots of 10 mins walk every day if you are in severe pain. Slowly build up to more mins every day. This will not only help your back muscles but will help you lose weight slowly. Then if you are still suffering the lazy doctors wont be able to fob you off. The walking will help you but it wont cure you.
Thanks everyone it's nice to know I'm not alone. I've asked two doctors for help one told me to walk around the Avenue where I live even though I have trouble breathing by the time I reach my gate and the other wanted me to have a gastric band fitted but for that they wanted me to go to group sessions somewhere miles away. I'm not good talking in front of people so I knew I wouldn't go even if I could find it. The pain and breathing problems stop me going to my doctors for routine bloods because I worry about the walk there and how I'd get back home even though it's only a short distance coming home is mostly up hill
I have severe spinal stenosis, the collar of the vertebra on L5 has fallen on to L5, I know this because I have an MRI and a couple of CT scans, I am on Gabapentine, this drug has made me put weight on, however I’m not overweight. I am unable to walk very far, without a rolater and I am very breathless too, so I know how you feel. Please get your doctors to take this seriously and not just blame your weight. The trouble at the moment is getting any scans, my operation has been put on hold. Wishing you all the best. X
I echo Lupus ... even a walk to your gate a back several times a day and then a little bit more each day. ‘Food in’ isn’t always the b all and end ...what is sure is lack of movement is our back and body’s worst enemy even if there is nothing wrong with it. And as lupus says if this doesn’t help your docs have to step it up.
Also helix is right about the breathlessness. If it’s asthma an inhaler will sort and so help you.
Docs can give referrals to people who can walk with you... slimming world and so many many things. For your docs to not give you support (and emotional support) is very poor. Good luck. 😁
The trouble is that there is not much that can be done about many causes of lower back pain if it is just due to wear and tear arthritis and normal ageing degeneration rather than an inflammatory disease like ankylosing spondylitis, or a serious condition like spinal stenosis. Have your breathing problems been investigated as that is equally worrying?
I have degenerative disc disease in lower back and neck, which is painful so I feel for you. I had the various scans and tests many years ago when the pain started and was mild then, but have not opted to have a further MRI as there doesn’t seem much point to me if nothing can be done. I would not accept surgery on my back unless I couldn’t walk, and so far I manage it with physical therapy, exercise and ice/heat plus painkillers. Do you do any stretching exercises at home? There are some that you can do on your bed before you get up in the morning.
And what is your BMI? (height/weight) As although hard to accept, they could be right and loosing the weight is the thing that will make the major difference.
Yes, push your doctors, but also be determined to help yourself as much as possible.
Just after my mum passed away I was in a bad way I was sleeping sort of in the chair. Not long after I went to my GP because I was struggling to breath I was rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack. Thankfully it wasn't but it was blood clots on my lungs. I was put on warfrin for six months then stopped. Twelve months after I was again taken into hospital again for clots on my lungs. So when this breathlessness started suddenly I thought it was the same but because I was on warfrin they said it wasn't so I had numerous tests and scans and eventually the consultant put it down to my weight.
Been there got the t shirt. Pre RA I was slim and I’ve put on 4 stone . I eat healthy with portion control and I can’t maintain and it is still creeping up. I bought I rowing machine so I work my whole body in one go. Some days 5 mins other 30 mins sometimes done in sections 5 mins am then pm etc. I’ve not lost weight but am more supple and I’m strengthening my body. I also walk 1 mile minimum a day ( not at any speed ) . We wish there was a magic 🥺pill
I was very slim when back troubles started and had op and was told to exercise, I always did when able , lack of exercise certainly was not what caused it. Now years later and worsened health probs and bigger than I was I’m told to lose weight. I’d love to, I eat half of what I did when I was slim /skinny , but I can’t exercise as much as used to because of other health probs. I was seeing respiratory who said I had low oxygen in blood, which then turned to overweight being cause. My breathing probs intermittent and being same weight through good and bad times it’s hard to take serious. Yes I need to shed a few pounds , but no I don’t over eat I just can’t move as I used to. A healthy weight of course is best for everyone , as mmrr said, but is used too much as an excuse to blame in my opinion, and I was told to cut down on my portion sizes 😡 for one , they don’t know my portion sizes and two they are welcome to my home to watch my portion sizes which are half of what they ever used to be and my family saying is that all you’ve eaten 🤷♀️ I’m not a secret eater either.
If you struggle with dieting ask to be referred or go to weight watchers if you think will help, and if this helps they won’t have weight to blame.
It’s a tough one but weight was not the cause for me, but if we can be a healthy weight it takes the excuse away, and gives us the best we can be. For us who can’t shift it When it’s not dietary 🤷♀️But I think it’s dished out as poor excuse at times, and just an unhelpful statement as stand alone.
I sometimes wish doctors would get off their high horse and empathise with their patients instead of making them feel guilty. Being overweight is a contributing factor but usually not the original cause. Being in pain reduces mobility and lack of mobility leads to weight gain. Just sending you away and telling you to lose weight without any constructive help is really irresponsible of them. I would write a letter to the doctor and tell him/her just that. Also some physiotherapy might help with back specific exercises. Eat as healthily as you can just 3 meals a day and a slow walk as far as you comfortably can or round the house as many times as you can. I have lower back pain and only weigh 8 stone 3Ib so being overweight isn't the whole cause a lot of the time.
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